Course Schedule

For 2026, I am attempting a bit of an overhaul on the assigned papers. Please be aware that this schedule may change as I update papers and topics covered.
You are expected to read these papers before the class that they are assigned. For papers that entail a required review, you must submit a paper review by Noon CT on the day that paper is to be discussed. In addition, the "Due dates" column indicates other items due on that day.
Date Topic and Notes Due dates Readings for this class

Section 1: Introduction and Foundations
M 5-Jan Introduction (slides)
W 7-Jan How to read a paper (slides)
(Whiteboard photos (thanks Yang!): 1, 2) 		Paper review due by noon CT!
M 12-Jan

Discussion: end-to-end systems abstraction


(Whiteboard photos (thanks Yang!): 1, 2) 		No required readings.
W 14-Jan Foundations: Binaries, Viruses, malware analysis Paper review of "Hiding in the Particles" due by noon CT!
M 19-Jan No class (MLK day)

Section 2: Malware, Analysis, and Defenses
W 21-Jan Moving Target Defenses: Virtual Machines and Automated Diversification
M 26-Jan Evasive Malware and Automated Analysis Paper review due by noon CT!
W 28-Jan Project Pitches and Discussion

Class canceled due to weather.

 Submit your 500-word writeup via the submission system. See here.

No required readings.
M 2-Feb

Static and Dynamic Software Analysis, Fuzzing

Evasive malware, dynamic analysis, Project Pitch Discussion

Class shifted due to weather.

Section 3: Low Level, Hardware, Kernel, Systems Security
W 4-Feb

Catch up: Static/Dynamic Analysis

Architectural sidechannels, Hardware Security

 HW1 due 2/6 at 11:59PM Central
Moved to 6-Feb
M 9-Feb Kernel rootkits
W 11-Feb GPU Security

Architectural side channels, KShot catchup

Section 4: Machine Learning, Large Language Models
M 16-Feb GPU Security
W 18-Feb Machine Learning, Stealing Models

Please complete this poll by Friday 2/20 for paper presentations!
M 23-Feb Prompt stealing from LLMs; importance of data.
W 25-Feb Machine Learning for Malware Analysis and Beyond Paper review due by noon CT!
M 2-Mar Project Proposal Presentations (day 1) Submit your presentation slides and writeup: see here.
W 4-Mar Project Proposal Presentations (day 2)
M 9-Mar No class, Spring break
W 11-Mar No class, Spring break
M 16-Mar Machine Unlearning

Section 5: LLMs, Software Security, Vulnerabilities
W 18-Mar LLM-based Software Patching
M 23-Mar LLM Fingerprinting
W 25-Mar LLM Jailbreaking HW2 due at 11:59PM Central on Thursday 3/26

Section 6: Human Subject Research, Research Ethics
M 30-Mar Ethics (of research and security)
W 1-Apr Foundations: human studies
M 6-Apr Human Subjects and Machine Learning Paper review due by noon CT!

Section 7: Potpourri Topics
W 8-Apr Autonomous vehicles
M 13-Apr TOR, Bitcoin, and Network Security HW3 due Monday 4/13 at 11:59PM Central
W 15-Apr TBA
M 20-Apr Final Project Presentations (day 1) Submit your presentation slides and writeup: see here.
W 22-Apr Final Project Presentations (day 2)

There are no exams for this class.